Chapter 3: Public Takedown
Derek didn't believe I'd actually file.
When the papers arrived at his office, he called me from a coworker's phone since I'd blocked his number.
"You're insane," he hissed. "My boss saw the courier. Do you know how embarrassing that was?"
I fought back a smile. "That sounds like a you problem."
"Get your ass to dinner tonight. My parents' place. We're settling this like adults."
Going to his parents' house meant facing Derek, Linda, his dad Frank, and probably Amber too—all at once.
In other words: a goldmine.
"Fine," I said. "I'll be there at seven."
I spent the afternoon shopping. With $37,000 already in my account, I bought a dress that hugged every new curve, heels that made my legs look endless, and got my hair done professionally.
When I rang the doorbell at the Marshall house, it was Frank who answered.
He did a double-take.
"Sophia?" His eyes traveled down and back up. "You look... well."
"Thank you, Frank."
Inside, Derek was pacing. He turned when I walked in—and his jaw physically dropped.
Good.
Linda emerged from the kitchen, took one look at me, and her expression soured. "Well. I see you spent your time shopping instead of reflecting."
"$5,000 deposited."
I sat down gracefully, crossing my legs. "You wanted to talk. Let's talk."
Derek recovered first. "Where the hell did you get money for all that?"
"Not your concern anymore."
Linda jumped in. "Sophia, this family gave you everything. A home, stability, status—"
"Status?" I laughed. "Your son was sleeping with my best friend for eight months. Where's my status in that?"
The room went silent.
Then Amber walked in from the hallway. She'd been there the whole time.
"Oh, Sophia." She looked me up and down, jealousy flickering before she masked it. "Playing dress-up won't change who you are inside."
"$7,000 deposited. Attractiveness +3%."
I watched Amber's face as my cheekbones lifted subtly, my skin brightened another shade.
She blinked rapidly, clearly noticing something was off.
"How—" she started.
Derek cut in. "Enough! Sophia, drop the divorce. I'll end things with Amber. We'll go to counseling."
Amber's head snapped toward him. "WHAT?"
Chaos erupted. They were screaming at each other, Linda was yelling at everyone, and Frank retreated to his study.
I sat in the middle of it all, serene as a Buddha, while the system kept chiming.
"$3,000... $2,000... $5,000..."
When the dust settled, I stood up and smoothed my dress.
"I'll see you in court, Derek."
I walked toward the door. Derek grabbed my wrist—hard.
"You're not leaving until we fix this," he snarled.
Before I could respond, the front door opened behind me.
A deep voice cut through the room like ice.
"Take your hand off her. Now."
Ethan Cross stood in the doorway, tall enough to block out the porch light, his expression murderous.
Derek released me instantly.
I hadn't told Ethan where I'd be tonight.
So how was he here?
When the papers arrived at his office, he called me from a coworker's phone since I'd blocked his number.
"You're insane," he hissed. "My boss saw the courier. Do you know how embarrassing that was?"
I fought back a smile. "That sounds like a you problem."
"Get your ass to dinner tonight. My parents' place. We're settling this like adults."
Going to his parents' house meant facing Derek, Linda, his dad Frank, and probably Amber too—all at once.
In other words: a goldmine.
"Fine," I said. "I'll be there at seven."
I spent the afternoon shopping. With $37,000 already in my account, I bought a dress that hugged every new curve, heels that made my legs look endless, and got my hair done professionally.
When I rang the doorbell at the Marshall house, it was Frank who answered.
He did a double-take.
"Sophia?" His eyes traveled down and back up. "You look... well."
"Thank you, Frank."
Inside, Derek was pacing. He turned when I walked in—and his jaw physically dropped.
Good.
Linda emerged from the kitchen, took one look at me, and her expression soured. "Well. I see you spent your time shopping instead of reflecting."
"$5,000 deposited."
I sat down gracefully, crossing my legs. "You wanted to talk. Let's talk."
Derek recovered first. "Where the hell did you get money for all that?"
"Not your concern anymore."
Linda jumped in. "Sophia, this family gave you everything. A home, stability, status—"
"Status?" I laughed. "Your son was sleeping with my best friend for eight months. Where's my status in that?"
The room went silent.
Then Amber walked in from the hallway. She'd been there the whole time.
"Oh, Sophia." She looked me up and down, jealousy flickering before she masked it. "Playing dress-up won't change who you are inside."
"$7,000 deposited. Attractiveness +3%."
I watched Amber's face as my cheekbones lifted subtly, my skin brightened another shade.
She blinked rapidly, clearly noticing something was off.
"How—" she started.
Derek cut in. "Enough! Sophia, drop the divorce. I'll end things with Amber. We'll go to counseling."
Amber's head snapped toward him. "WHAT?"
Chaos erupted. They were screaming at each other, Linda was yelling at everyone, and Frank retreated to his study.
I sat in the middle of it all, serene as a Buddha, while the system kept chiming.
"$3,000... $2,000... $5,000..."
When the dust settled, I stood up and smoothed my dress.
"I'll see you in court, Derek."
I walked toward the door. Derek grabbed my wrist—hard.
"You're not leaving until we fix this," he snarled.
Before I could respond, the front door opened behind me.
A deep voice cut through the room like ice.
"Take your hand off her. Now."
Ethan Cross stood in the doorway, tall enough to block out the porch light, his expression murderous.
Derek released me instantly.
I hadn't told Ethan where I'd be tonight.
So how was he here?